Building a 'BRIDGE'

Katherine Kelly Lang And Thorsten Kaye Reflect On The Success Of B&B’s Longest-Running Couple

- TOM STACY

Soap Opera Digest: Kelly, you were there from the beginning of this pairing. Did you have any concerns or advice for Thorsten when he stepped in back in 2013?

Katherine Kelly Lang: I’m pretty sure I gave Thorsten advice, something along the lines of, “Don’t worry, just be yourself and make the character work for you.” It’s hard to remember because it seems like Thorsten has been Ridge for such a long time. In my eyes, Thorsten’s Ridge doesn’t take anything away from the Ridge that Ronn [Moss, ex-Ridge] played for 25 years. Ronn made a decision to leave but the character is so important to the show, and to Brooke. I think Thorsten just gets to expand the role and bring in new nuances. Of course, the history of “Bridge” remains intact, that will never change.

Digest: Thorsten, any concerns on your part?

Thorsten Kaye: Not really. You can’t be concerned about that because wherever you go, you’re always going to replace somebody, whether it’s the same character or just be something they need on the show to fill a void. This show has been going for a while, and while it’s always difficult to join a cast that all know each other, they know how the machine works. I was really looking forward to this.

Digest: How did you develop your on- and off-screen bond?

Kaye: She is just one of the nicest people I have ever met, without an ego at all, which was very surprising to me. Kelly made it very easy. She’s the best. She puts the show first and puts the people she works with first, and that has nothing to do with me. I just showed up.